Blood test, vitamin D
Facility: Rawlins County Health Center
Billing Code: 82306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82306
- Insurance Median: $378
- Cash Discount Price: $370
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 12.77x Medicare
Average discount available for prompt cash payment at this facility.
Median negotiated contract rate across all mapped commercial carriers.
Standard federal government reimbursement rate for this code.
Visual Cost Comparison vs. Medicare
Understanding this gauge: We use the federal Medicare rate of $29.6 as the cost baseline. Rates below the baseline represent excellent value. In-network commercial rates commonly hover around 150% - 250% of Medicare, while rates exceeding 300% are elevated. Hover over the green and blue markers to view detailed calculations.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 1277% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1177%). Patients with high-deductible plans or out-of-network benefits may face excessive out-of-pocket costs.
Out-of-Pocket Cost Estimator
Estimate whether it is more economical to use your insurance or pay the upfront self-pay cash rate.
Commercial Insurance Negotiated Rates
Negotiated contract ranges established by major commercial carriers at this facility.
| Carrier / Plan Group | Contract Rate Range | vs. Medicare Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $218 | 736% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $378 | 1277% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 82306, representing a blood test for vitamin D, Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood, KS, lists a gross charge of $435.00. While the facility's cash median price is $370.00, which is lower than the gross charge, the negotiated rate for in-network payers averages $378.00. This negotiated amount is slightly higher than the cash price, illustrating a scenario where paying out-of-pocket might be more cost-effective for patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance. It is important to note that the facility's negotiated rate of $378.00 is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $29.60, reflecting the standard administrative markup and contract dynamics that commercial insurance rates often carry compared to federal reimbursement.
Patients should be aware that hospitals frequently issue summary bills that obscure individual line items, making it difficult to identify errors or unbundled charges. To protect yourself, always request a full itemized bill showing specific CPT codes before paying or disputing the amount. Additionally, since the facility is a Voluntary non-profit Critical Access Hospital, you should explicitly ask about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final balance by 20% to 50% if paid upfront. Given that the facility is located in Atwood, KS (ZIP 67730), and operates within Rawlins County, verifying that your insurance plan is truly in-network is crucial, as out-of-network services could trigger unexpected balance billing despite federal protections for emergency care.